The Woman of Andros
About this audiobook
“From the earliest
pages of his first novels and plays, Wilder examined the universal quandaries
encapsulated in the questions the young man Pamphilus asks in The Woman of
Andros: “How does one live? What does one do first?” — Penelope Niven
Thornton Wilder’s celebrated novel TheWoman of Andros, set before the birth of Christ on an obscure
Greek island, tells the story of the enigmatic Chrysis, a courtesan (and an
outcast) of haunting beauty and intelligence. In her gatherings with the young
men of the island, Chrysis probes what is precious about life, and how we live,
love, and die in a harsh world, themes that Wilder revisited eight years later
in his play, Our Town.
Pamphilus, the only son of a prominent villager, fathers a baby out of wedlock
with Chrysis’s sister, whom he wants to marry. The questions faced by
Pamphilus, his family and the other “respectable” citizens of the island also
explore themes of social class and status.
Discover more
About the author
THORNTON WILDER (1897–1975) is the only writer to win Pulitzer Prizes for both drama (Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth) and fiction (The Bridge of San Luis Rey). He collaborated with Alfred Hitchcock on Shadow of a Doubt, hiked the Alps with the heavyweight boxing champion Gene Tunney, received a Bronze Star for his service in World War II, and was credited with discovering Orson Welles. He was also a much-loved teacher, letter-writer (especially with Gertrude Stein), and public speaker—in four languages. Hello, Dolly! is based on his play The Matchmaker. Learn more about his extraordinary life and work at thorntonwilder.com.
